Lombard pedestrian tunnel work to start soon

Lombard's no-frills Metra station will receive a makeover starting this spring with a pedestrian underpass plus canopies and shelters on the platforms.

Metra directors Friday approved an $8 million contract with John Burns Construction Co. with work expected to start this spring and last 10 months.

Currently, pedestrians use walkways across the tracks to reach the other side. The improvements are part of a series of safety upgrades along the Union Pacific West Line.

Several governments are sharing the cost of the project with Metra contributing $3.7 million, Union Pacific adding $3.3 million, the Illinois Commerce commission $750,000 and the village of Lombard $300,000.

Features include new retaining walls, accessible ramps, new platform shelters, canopies and landscaping.

In a separate contract, Burns and UP will rebuild the station platforms.

Along the UP West Line, Wheaton is also due for a pedestrian overpass as part of the construction program.

UP officials said each station was assessed independently for safety needs in 2007-2008, which resulted in the upgrade plan.